I reach for one of the cloth napkins that she’s laid out and whip it open, before tossing it back onto the table next to my plate.
I grunt when a small piece of bread bounces off my shoulder and look up to see Dalton giving me a cautiously amused grin.
“What?” I all but snap at him. I lower my eyes for a moment, take a deep breath, and remind myself that my brother isn’t the enemy. She is, I think as I raise my eyes toward the ceiling. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell. What was it you said?”
He grins at me as he shakes his head fondly. Dalton has always been able to forgive my outbursts because he knows that they are never a direct result of anything he’s said or done to me.
“I was wondering if you would agree with me is all.”
“About what?”
“Dinner smelling great, you goof,” he repeats with a laugh.
It’s then that I allow myself the small comfort of taking in the aroma of what Luna’s prepared, and nod as my stomach growls quietly.
“Yeah. It actually does.”
She walks back into the dining room with a pitcher of ice water, sets it down in the center of the table, then takes a seat on the right.
Directly between us.
It makes me wonder if he’d be willing to fuck her with me.
“What is it?” I ask as I crane my neck and glance at the large, ceramic platter in the middle of the table.
“I made a few rib-eyes!” she replies in that cheerful tone again. “I know it looks like I may have over done how much I cooked, but you’re both growing boys and I want to keep you well fed while I’m around.”
I exchange a glance with my brother.
He looks amused as ever, and I feel dejected in a way, knowing that she really won’t be here forever.
“Thanks,” I mumble as I reach for the napkin again and begin to fiddle with it.
“You can thank me by clearing any plate you fill up,” Luna states with a smile. “Now, you boys help yourselves and if it’s alright with the both of you, I’d like to fix a plate up for your momma and take it up to her.”
“No—”
“That’ll be just fine, thanks, Luna,” I say, cutting my brother off. When he gives me a look of panic, I shake my head and reach for the platter in the center of the table.
They’ll have to meet eventually.
Why not now?